Root, Buttler & Bethell Shine, But South Africa Win by 5 Runs

England fought bravely in their chase of 331, but South Africa edged out a thrilling victory by just 5 runs to seal the ODI series 2–0.

England’s Key Performances

England had three standout batters:

• Joe Root scored a calm and composed 61 off 72 balls, keeping the innings steady.
   
• Jacob Bethell played a fearless knock of 58 off just 40 balls, smashing boundaries to lift the run rate.
   
• Jos Buttler fought till the end with a brilliant 61 off 51 balls, threatening to snatch the game away.

Despite these efforts, England finished at 325/9, falling just short of the target.

South Africa’s Bowling Heroes

South Africa’s bowlers made sure England never fully took control:

• Nandre Burger starred with 3 key wickets, removing Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, and Brydon Carse.
   
• Keshav Maharaj added crucial breakthroughs, including Joe Root and Ben Duckett.
   
• Lungi Ngidi and Senuran Muthusamy chipped in with wickets at the right time, keeping England under pressure.

The Final Moments

The game went right to the line. England had to make rapid scores in the last overs, but the bowlers of South Africa remained calm and bowled out each run. The two sides were only 5 runs apart, and in the end, South Africa took the victory and the series.